Encanto Tropical 50: 'Meditations' Salsa Vinyl Session with context
Updated: Jul 31
This episode contains 29 tracks (2:01:23). Replay it near the bottom of this page.
Every song has a background story. Sometimes it may not to be extraordinary; however, sometimes it can offer great insight about the song’s origin, historical link, socio-cultural relevance, or other meaning.
More Salsa Song Context in a Salsa Vinyl session
To mark the milestone of 50 episodes, I wanted to do something unique, but while I decided on a salsa vinyl session, I also wanted to add more song context than I usually do.
About Episode 50
'Meditations - Salsa Vinyl Session' comprises several carefully selected songs from my record collection, which I admit is not a particularly special one as it pales in comparison to other collectors -- although numbering about 1,000 items, there are few rare items. Nonetheless, there was enough material to provide great fun while researching for Episode 50. As usual, the process of song selection was a learning experience — this alone makes programing any episode worth the effort.
And it is certainly evident that the more I learn, the less I know. The salsa universe is vast. More questions come to mind than I can answer. This propels me to research more and foster a growing fascination with "salsa in context", the theme of my debut presentation related to salsa music at the Taiwan Salsa Carnival in November 2024.
Barcelona!
The next presentation is in September at the CoBeatParty Salsa Rave event in Barcelona. I need to be fully prepared; there is a growing pile of books to read, numerous journal articles to go over, and many salsa songs to analyze in the next few months.
"Salsa in Context" - Workshop/Presentation
by DJ Angel Figueroa
CoBeatParty Salsa Rave | Sept 11-14, 2025
Barcelona, España
Salsa in Context
As for episode 50 of Encanto Tropical, I provided some introductory context for some songs. Here are examples:
Don Lengua - Louie Colon y Su Tripulacion (1971)
This song was written by the great Cuban composer and bandleader Ignacio Piñeiro, who recorded it in Havana the late 1950s. Many versions have been made since and I especially like this one by Louie Colon.
La Toalla - Junior Gonzalez (1983)
A great standard meaning “The Towel” in Spanish, it is used in reference to the expression “throw in the towel” or to quit, because the lyrics state "I can’t take it anymore". The song’s popularity comes from Tito Rodriguez, with his timeless classic from 1965 but was re-explored in this great version by Junior Gonzalez.
Trumpeta en Montuno - Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros (1976)
The master Cuban trumpet player Chocolate moved to New York after the Cuban revolution and often played the key trumpet role in many recordings during the salsa boom (listen for a lead singer’s cry "Sopla Chocolate!" before his solo). This particular song was released on his first solo album and is a demonstration of his musical sense and skill. I had the pleasure of meeting Chocolate himself in New York in 2002 when he shared some stories with me over rum.
Sancocho Caliente - Federico y Su Combo Latino (1966)
The band director and salsa pioneer Federico Betancourt is highly regarded in any study of the history of salsa, especially in his native Venezuela. This song is remarkable because it appeared on his debut album titled Llegó la Salsa, at a time well before the term ‘salsa' was popularized in New York referring to a certain musical style. It is among the very few instances, in fact, where an album title includes the term, although it cannot claim to be the first one. Also, the song does not strike me as entirely original; rather it is a cover, or a modified copy as some might suggest, of an Eddie Palmieri hit from 1964, called Ajiaco Caliente. I look forward to investigating this in more detail in a recently acquired book about Federico Betancourt.
Other examples of context are on the Episode 50 replay (link at the bottom of this page).
FEATURED ARTISTS
Here is the full list of artists and bands appearing in Episode 50, in alphabetical order. Full attribution is given on the show.
Al Ramos y su Orquesta
Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros
Alvaro del Castillo y Su Orquesta La Calentura
Angel Canales
Carlos Muñoz y Su Orquesta
Chu Linares y Su Orquesta
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
El Combo de Siempre
Federico y Su Combo Latino
Franco et l'orchestre O.K. Jazz
Frankie Morales y Su Banda
Gilberto Sextet
Guarare
Hector Rivera
Junior Gonzalez
La Super Banda de Don Filemon
Los Kenya
Louie Colon
Louie Ramírez & Ray de La Paz
Mario Ortiz & His All Stars
Orchestra Harlow
Orquesta del Sol
Pabonny y Su Grupo
Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno
Raul Marrero
The Latin Brothers
Tito Chicoma y Su Orquesta
Tromboranga
Willie Rosario
Acknowledgements
In a way, reaching the 50-episode milestone is no big deal. However, it's also no joke — it certainly seems now like it was a huge effort over the past few years for me. A lot of time went into producing each and every show up to and including Episode 50.
It has been a good experience, so I am grateful for the opportunity to explore this and other topics on my own radio show, with support from the World Salsa Radio CEO, Felipe Martinez and co-founder Orlando Felix; by extension, my full respect and thanks to the other DJs on the WSR team, each with a unique show (check the WSR schedule for details).
And warm thanks to all listeners, especially a few dedicated ones — you know who you are!
But special gratitude goes to my wife who put up with a lot of distraction on my part as I prepared shows! This episode is timely, in fact, as it coincides with our wedding anniversary and included in the show is a song dedicated to her.
Estamos en salsa.
All the best!
REPLAY
ENCANTO TROPICAL 50
(Click on the link above if the embedded SoundCloud player does not display)
